I could feel the static electricity in the air beginning to lift my long, blonde hair up off my shoulders, pinning it to the air as if gravity ceased to exist. The electricity in my eardrums buzzed loudly sounding just like swarming honeybees, which then caused the skin on my arms to turn to goose-flesh.
Another lightning bolt shot out of the sky and worked its way crookedly down to the earth. After a few seconds its report rang out with a clap that shook the house to its very foundation.
“WELL, I NEVER WANTED TO COME BACK HERE, BUT WHAT CHOICE DID WE HAVE?” Came from somewhere on the other side of the house breaking my concentration on the storm.
Son of a bitch! I thought, and I began growing steadily angry with my mama. Would you just grow a pair already? You can’t just run into your hole and hide every time somebody looks at you cockeyed.
Torrents of water came down from the capacious clouds. Soon, the rain that was hitting my balcony began to splash up off its cement floor only to begin soaking my legs up to my kneecaps. Eventually, even getting the hem of my denim skirt wet.
Light continued to flicker throughout the billowing clouds. While the occasional white or pink bolt would jump horizontally from cloud-to-cloud as if it were a snake burrowing itself through hills of sand.
By now I had become rapt in the storm. As if it were a part of me and me some intrinsic part of it. As if I was feeding it somehow. We had merged into one entity.
Acrid smells were now beginning to waft up from the rotting foliage being turned over from a compost heap near the back-end of the yard.
Another clap of thunder hit and with it I heard a forlorn and terrified animal shriek out from somewhere in the forest, but the effusive rain quickly silenced its cries.
Light from deep within the storm clouds began to irradiate parts of the sky’s black canvas, giving it a deep, warm glow. As if the tempest had swallowed lightning bugs causing a dappled condition to appear.
The indefatigable storm surged forward punishing Mt. Harrison in its intensity as it pervasively made its ways through its hills.
“WELL WHAT THE HELL DID YOU WANT ME TO SAY? NO, LETS NOT TAKE THE HOUSE AND THE MONEY AND THE CAR BECAUSE YOU DON’T LIKE THE PEOPLE YOU GREW UP WITH!!!” I heard my Step Daddy Cade cogently shout out. His voice now carrying through the walls as if they were paper-thin.
Perturbed and now seething over my parent’s squabbling. I reached behind me for the balcony’s door handles to close them behind me. When I touched them, I became jolted by another one of those surges of power that arced its way from the brass handles to my finger tips. The electricity was purple and bluish as I saw it from the corner of my eye and I had felt it course through me becoming serpentine around my insides. Like I was now a lightning conduit that the storm was using to enter inside me.
Truculent thunder clapped from all around as I lifted my arms up to the heavens in pure delight of the storm’s all encompassing cacophony. I supinated my hands, and water began filling my palms instantly. I then stepped out from under the eve further onto the balcony, letting the sheets of rain begin to drench my clothes.
Power seemed everywhere and all around me even though I could not see it; I could feel it, warm and comforting. I felt like the storm and I had coalesced and I was now in control of it. It was like a giant machine and I was pushing the buttons. Winds whipped around me and howled in my ears as the glass balcony doors behind me shook violently.
It all felt ethereal, like I wasn’t on my balcony any longer. It was as if I was up in the clouds. In the storm high above the forest. I rained down on the village, cleansing it of all its horrible secrets, and belaboring its abhorrent history from it.
“THINGS ARE ONLY GOING TO GET WORSE. I KNOW THEY ARE!” I heard my mama cry out. And with that, I was completely enraged. I felt myself become totally implacable, and I shouted into the sky “SHUT UP!” as the rain poured down on my face.
Lightning struck down just off to my right, near the Genesee River. That was followed almost immediately by another bolt that came down, burning the sky somewhere to my left. It was close. Possibly even in my side yard, close.
“THERE’S NO GODDAMN WAY WE’RE GIVING BACK THAT MONEY!”
“SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!!!” I screamed as I slammed both of my hands down upon the balcony’s railings.
Coinciding with my outburst the sky lit up and a spider web of bolts raced across the clouds culminating back into one enormous thunderbolt that rocketed down before me striking the sodden lawn of my backyard. The black sky momentarily burned red and orange from its heat, and I could feel the warmth of it come off the air. Everything went awash with light around me. And the light, piercing in its brilliance, seemed to penetrate the walls of the house behind me lighting up the entire structure. The earth and the house shook tremulously as the ground absorbed the bolts power. The thunder which then accompanied the bolt simultaneously almost leveled the house when its shock wave had hit. Sending a wall of sound and pressurized air, slamming against the house’s back facade. All the windows on the back-end of our house where I stood instantly shattered, sending their liberated glass crashing to the ground and deck.
And then, just like that, it was finished. The rain tailed off almost immediately and the thunder and lightning ceased. Forged on the ground was a smoldering, carbon-black circle where the lightning had struck. The clouds dissipated and slipped away back behind the mountain opening up the night’s sky. I soon could see the stars again twinkling with their dazzling radiance up on their black canvas where they belonged.
My mama and step daddy rushed into my bedroom, turning on the lights. I quickly turned around to see them come in as my hair and clothing all soaked and wet ran off in little rivulets of rain water.
Before me scattered across the balcony laid shimmering shards of broken glass that stretched out over the balcony’s flooded cement floor. Twinkling pieces of jagged razors reaching as far as my bedroom’s now drenched carpet that lay just beyond the broken doors.
“Oh my god... Cera. Are you alright?” My mama called out to me before rushing forward, and paying no mind to the broken glass. “What happened? Did you get hit by lightning?” she then asked panic-stricken. My step daddy then quickly grabbed a blanket off of my bed using it to cover me.
“I’m fine.” I said. “I was just watching the storm and—”
“But you’re all wet and cold.” She said, cutting me off mid-sentence while also suffocating me in her embrace. “You didn’t get cut from any of this broken glass, did you?” She then asked as she feverishly looked me over from head-to-toe.
“JEZUS!” Step Daddy Cade exclaimed as he came back in from the balcony. “That damn storm broke every window on this side of the house.”
“It’s alright. As long as nobody got hurt. That’s all that is important.” My mama told him while still holding me tight to her chest.
“I’m fine. Really, I am.” I said, trying to reassure her as I broke away from her grip and went over to my closet to grab dry clothes. “I think I’m just goin’ to get somethin’ warm and dry to put on now and go to bed. Got school in the mornin’, you know.”
“Yeah, well... You’re gonna have to sleep downstairs tonight, kiddo.” Step Daddy Cade then said as he closed up the balcony doors, engaging the deadbolt to keep the door’s framework held tight. “I’m gonna have to get a few garbage bags from the kitchen to cover up these windows or ya know what? I think we got some of those big-ass ones used for yard work out in the garage. I can use them to cover up these broken windows for now. If we don’t get’em covered we’ll have water and bugs all through the upstairs by mornin’.”
“Okay, I’ll head downstairs and start making up the couches because it looks like we’ll all be bunking down there for at least tonight.” My mama then told the two of us before heading off.
“If you want. I’ll take care of the other rooms first. So, you’ll have time to take a hot shower before I have to come in here and bandage up your room?”
Step Daddy Cade then said to me, but then he headed off downstairs himself before I had even given him an answer.
That night I slept on the tawny-colored sofa in the living room that contained all the photographs. I don’t think I could have slept any more soundly either. As I drifted off. I could still feel the warmth of the static electricity generated from the storm coursing through my veins like a drug.
As I slept, I dreamt that I was soaring high above Mount Harrison. Way above the forest like an angel or some other deity. At another point I was also back above Saraland looking down on all my friends’ homes. It felt peaceful being up there. It felt right. As if I was a bird or maybe even an eagle soaring valiantly and righteous like a superhero ready to protect the innocent or tear apart anyone or anything that got in my way.
And, then my phone went off. The alarm clock I had set, that is, and I was up and ready to face day two of many more to come at Mount Harrison high.
I Finally Made real Friends with a Kat
On my walk to school that morning I saw firsthand all the damage that the storm had done to all the houses and trees around the neighborhood. For the most part, though. It looked as if our house had gotten the worst of it. The other houses weren’t nearly as bad.
There were a few roof shingles scattered about on some of the lawns that I saw. Plenty of broken tree branches were also down on the ground blocking parts of the roadways. While still others hanged suspended. Having been supported in the trees by larger limbs. And there was also lawn furniture toppled over everywhere. But that appeared as if the worst of it. All-in-all though. I was pretty sure Collings Avenue would survive.
As I walked I didn’t see any strays. Having reckoned that they were still in hiding because of the storm. But I thought I heard a few of them, rustling about in the copses that flanked either side of the street.
As I approached the school I found myself slowing down as I walked because I really was enjoying the early morning sun’s warmth on my face. It had picked up my spirits, and I thought to myself that if I could just absorb enough of it, I could use it like a battery throughout the day. Allowing me to get through dealing with the bitches.
But, unfortunately... Once again, I found myself staring up at the front steps of the school willing myself to go inside. It was at that moment right before I had entered through the school’s double doors that I thought of Tucker. I knew that if I was still back at home in Saraland and was ever in such a mood as the one that I had found myself right then. He would have ditched school with me in a heartbeat. We would’ve then spent the day at the beach down by the Gulf, or possibly had gone to the movies, or have done something fun together, I’m sure.
As I stood there alone and miserable. I found myself never having missed my friends or Saraland more than I did right then, and I almost felt like kicking my own ass for feeling like I was about to cry.
Once inside, I had made it through homeroom by staring out the windows at the squirrels yet again. Then, it was off to physics with the flamboyant Mr. McLaren. I had managed to make it there on time today and took my seat once again in the back of the room near the windows and the periodic table poster.
After I had fidgeted about for a bit trying to make myself more comfortable in the unforgiving hardwood chair, I glanced around the room. That was when Keri Mahan came swaggering in taking a seat this time a little further away from me near the windows that were on the other side of the room.
After sitting down. She looked back to sneer at me with pursed, pink lips and her stupid nose turned up and held high in the air. I thought I could smell the stench of her arrogance all the way on my side of the room.
Mr. McLaren then had gotten up from his desk and went right into his spiel. He began his lecture by talking about the Big-bang theory and how the universe came into creation. He then started asking random students questions about the lecture. His query had kicked-off with a burn-out named Michael who was sitting next to Keri. The question he was asked was, What he thought the most abundant element in the universe was? The boy thought about it for a moment and then said, “I don’t know... Rock, I guess.” Mr. McLaren then leered down at him like a praying mantis and said to him with that prissy little head shake he likes to do, “No, rock is not the most abundant element in the universe, Michael. Hydrogen is!” I then watched as Michael rolled his eyes before putting his head down, shaking it slightly in disgust. If, I could’ve read Michael’s mind. I’m sure he was thinking, fuck you, Fag. And, I had to laugh a little on the inside at the thought.
Mr. McLaren then turned his attentions on me after I thought he’d caught me smiling. “Miss. Singer,” he said, and Keri Mahan instantly whipped around in her chair to stare at me. “Miss. Singer, what can you tell the class about the Big-bang theory. If you would be so kind as to enlighten us with your wisdom?”
Awe horseshit, I thought, as I sat upright in my seat while taking a deep breath before answering. I then tried quickly to think of something to say because all eyes were on me now. But as my mind began racing faster than a one legged man in an ass kicking contest. I struggled to come up with anything. Eventually, after what had seemed like an eternally long pause. I cleared my throat and said, “It’s the theory that scientists have that all matter in the universe originated from one infinite point as the result of a cataclysmic explosion.” I had no idea if I was right or wrong, or even where that had come from. But it was most likely just something I’d tucked away in the back recesses of my brain that I had picked up from somewhere. Probably that television show with the same name.
“That’s oddly correct, Miss. Singer.” Mr. McLaren said, sounding astonished.
That’s oddly correct. You dick! I thought.
“What do you have to add to what Miss. Singer just said, Miss. Mahan?” Mr. McLaren then said, turning his attention to Keri.
Keri just sat there looking dumbfounded. As if she hadn’t expected to be called upon. After a few moments she finally spoke up in a low tone, “I have nothing to add.” she said. Then, Mr. McLaren asked the class if anyone else had any other explanations as to how the universe came about? And, just then, I don’t know what came over me or why I said it, but I said out loud, “God?”
“Yes. There’s always him who certain people would have you believe created the heavens and the earth in less than a week’s time, like some workaholic. Then, he sent his son down here to walk on water, eat fish, and save our souls. But the concept of God doesn’t hold any scientific water in the real physical world, Miss. Singer.” Mr. McLaren said this to me sounding snarky. As if I had just suggested something so incredibly stupid that he had no choice but to negate my previously correct answer.
“Sure he does.” I then said out loud once again and not fully understanding why I had opened up my mouth yet again. I guess, I just didn’t like his smugness. I found it irritating. “It makes about as much sense as any of the B.S. scientists are always babbling on about.” Ugh, a third time... Shut-the-hell-up, Singer.
Mr. McLaren just stared at me. His mouth agape. Then he said, “I’m sure with you being from the Deep South. Your daddy along with the local reverend must have pounded the Bible into your brain ever since before you were born, Miss Singer. But here, where we are a little more... Enlightened. We know from the evidence that we’ve gathered that the creation of the universe points more towards evolution and not some old man with a long, white beard who likes to hang out in the clouds. Oh, and who has allegedly created everything and everyone on a whim and likes to control over everything that’s ever happened in history from behind the scenes like some wizard of Oz.”
Like a fool I kept going. “Yes, but science hasn’t been able to answer any of the major questions man has. Like why are we here, or what is life itself? And, scientist who often like to claim they know so much about everything are often found having been wrong and have to revise their theories all the time. At least people who have faith don’t waver in it. How can you take scientists seriously when they’re
wrong all the time, and all they have to say to get away with always being wrong is, In light of new evidence we have a new theory on...”
“That’s because new evidence comes into the light all the time, Miss. Singer.” Mr. McLaren said in a tizzy.
“Maybe,” I said, giving him attitude right back. “But you made it sound like God and science can’t coincide, and I have faith they can. Like take sciences theory of the Big-bang, which may actually be the same thing as the Bible’s theory of God saying, ‘Let there be light.’ And, in bringing both theories together. God creating the Heavens and the Earth may be the same as all matter being created simply out of nothing.”
“Miss. Singer, I have no doubt that you have a deep faith in your superstitions. But in the scientific community. We rely on cold, hard facts not faith.” Mr. McLaren then said to me in a series of little head shakes. Like belittling me was somehow going to shut me up, and not just piss me off.
“What’s wrong with having faith to help explain the things that you don’t yet have the evidence to explain or all the answers to?” I asked now really wanting to provoke a controversy.
“Because faith is hokum, Miss. Singer,”
“NO, IT ISN’T!”
“Well, then please explain to the class how it’s not then, huh?” Mr. McLaren demanded while now crossing his arms and leaning all his weight on one hip like how a mother would hold a child.
“Okay, fine.” I said. “Faith is like the squirrels in my front yard.”
“What, Miss. Singer?”
“Yeah, I have these squirrels livin’ in the trees in my front yard, and all day long I see them foraging for food. Every time you look at them, they’re either eatin’ somethin’ or lookin’ for somethin’ to eat. It’s non-stop, all day. Now, for as much time as I’ve spent watchin’ them eating. I have never ever seen a single one take a crap, but I have faith they do. Now, are you gonna tell me that my faith is wrong, that they don’t poop?”
In the Forest of Light and Dark Page 13
